Do I Know Jesus?

Many of us have believed in Jesus for many years. Some of us were raised in the faith. But if we are honest with ourselves, it is easy to understand how we can spend years as Christians without really thinking about who we are with. Philip found himself in just such a place in this story. He was an early follower of Jesus and had stayed with him from the beginning, but at this crucial moment, it became apparent that he still didn’t fully understand who he was following all that time. Our story today comes from John 14.

Philip said to him, 
     “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 
Jesus said to him, 
     “Have I been with you so long, 
            and you still do not know me, Philip? 
     Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 
     How can you say, 
           ‘Show us the Father’? 
     Do you not believe that I am in the Father 
           and the Father is in me? 
     The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, 
          but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 
     Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, 
          or else believe on account of the works themselves. 
[John 14:8-11 ESV]

Philip wanted more confirmation that Jesus was God, that he was the one they had all been hoping for. Jesus replied, “Have I been with you so long, and still do not know me, Philip?” Jesus was implying that the evidence was plentiful; the issue was not lack of evidence but lack of faith.

People frequently complain that if there really is a God, why doesn’t he just give us proof? I would say there is plenty of evidence for God, but God has intentionally left room for doubt to see if we love Him, trust Him, or simply fear Him. In Eden, we failed to trust God, listening to our own desires and the suggestions of a snake instead. To restore what was lost in Eden, we need to choose to trust God, trust His provision, and trust His goodness. If those things were all unavoidably obvious, no trust would be required.

Getting back to Philip in our story, it seems he could not see the forest for the trees. I’m not sure what he expected from the Messiah, but it seems he wanted more, just to be sure. He wanted to see the Father, to see God, and Jesus was saying in effect, “Look at me, look at what I have been doing. Who do you think is doing that? More importantly, who do you think I am?”

Do we believe?

I think we can all relate to Philip sometimes wishing that God would show us a sign or give us a definite (and loud) answer to our questions. We want to test God, but the hard truth is that we are the ones who fail. God wants to see if we will trust Him, if we believe He is trustworthy and good. The evidence is all around us, but it is not the kind of evidence that forces us to believe; it is the kind that invites us to believe.

The Book of Revelation ends with this invitation:

The Spirit and the Bride say, 
     “Come.” 
And let the one who hears say, 
     “Come.” 
And let the one who is thirsty come; 
      let the one who desires take the water of life 
          without price. 
Rev 22:17 [ESV]

The water of life is freely available to all who desire it. As Christians, we know and have experienced Him, just like Philip. So this week, let’s encourage each other to walk in confidence, trusting in God’s goodness. Let’s put our faith in what we do know rather than flounder around in the many things we don’t know. Let’s accept that the evidence we have is enough and step into each day in faith—faith that Jesus is who He says and is enough for whatever comes our way.

God is in and with us, so let’s have a great week!